Skimmer assembly for swimming pools

Abstract

A skimmer assembly for use in swimming pools in which a skimmer housing is provided with a skimming inlet and a drain inlet for receiving water from a pool. An outlet is also provided for connection with a vacuum source for discharging water from the housing. A floating weir is disposed in the housing for regulating the amount of water entering the housing from the skimming inlet and a filter basket is disposed in the housing with its open end communicating with the skimming inlet and a wall portion communicating with the drain inlet. An adaptor member and a cover plate cooperate with said basket for selectively controlling the flow of water from said skimming inlet to said outlet. The basket is adapted to attain a plurality of positions in the housing for regulating the flow through the drain inlet to the housing, and a sealing assembly is provided on the weir and the basket for sealing off flow through the skimmer inlet when the level of water in the pool falls below a predetermined value. The weir is adapted to accommodate an adaptor assembly for attaching a vacuum hose to the assembly for vacuuming selected portions of the pool under the vacuum created by the aforementioned vacuum source. A valve relief mechanism is provided on said weir for permitting water flow from said skimming inlet in the event the drain inlet becomes blocked when the weir is in its sealing position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A skimmer assembly for use in swimming pools comprising: a housing having walls presenting a cavity and further including--structure defining a skimming inlet in communication with said cavity for receiving water from the water line of said pool, structure defining a second inlet in communication with said cavity for receiving water from a level below the water line of said pool, and structure defining an outlet in communication with said cavity for communicating said cavity with a vacuum source for discharging water from said housing; a filter basket disposed in said housing including a generally upright, perforate sidewall structure defining a basket opening; and means for controlling the ratio of the flow of water entering said cavity through said skimming inlet to the flow of water entering said cavity through said second inlet including--a buoyant weir disposed in said housing between said skimming inlet and said outlet and shiftable between an open and closed position for regulating the amount of water entering said housing through said skimming inlet, separate means operatively attached to said basket sidewall presenting respective, spaced apart, flow restricting orifices of different effective flow control dimensions, each orifice being selectively positionable in a location relative to said second inlet for selective control of the volume of water permitted to flow from below the water line of the pool through said second inlet to the outlet via said orifice, means mounting said basket within said housing generally between said skimming inlet and said outlet for selective shifting of said basket to a position where one of said orifices is adjacent said second inlet to restrict flow of water from said second inlet to the cavity in accordance with the size of said orifice, a top wall secured to said basket sidewall structure configured to substantially cover said opening, said top wall defining a water flow aperture therethrough and including a shiftable cover for selectively adjusting the size of the aperture.   
     
     
       2. A skimmer assembly as in claim 1, said mounting means including means for aligning said basket in a position wherein one of said orifices is adjacent said second inlet, said aligning means including an outwardly extending projection on said basket and an inwardly projecting boss on said housing, said projection and said boss cooperatively engageable to prevent improper seating of said basket within said housing when said basket is inserted in said housing such that none of said orifices are aligned with said second inlet. 
     
     
       3. A skimmer assembly as in claim 1, said weir including structure defining an aperture therethrough with means for sealingly receiving a hose, and means for selectively covering said aperture. 
     
     
       4. A skimmer assembly as in claim 3, said orifice presenting means including means for sealingly receiving said hose for essentially blocking all water flow into said cavity through said second inlet. 
     
     
       5. A skimmer assembly as in claim 1, said weir including a flow-blocking member for preventing the flow of water from said inlet to said outlet when said weir is in said closed position, said member including means for relieving the vacuum created within said cavity by said vacuum source when said weir is in said closed position.